[IPSM] Municipalization and Taxation of First Nations (formerly Indian Reserves) - the last step in Assimilation

[Gordon David]

Many people may have thought that calling Indians "First Nations" was giving
respect to the indigenous peoples of Canada.

In fact, here are the definitions, according to INAC:

Indian
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/pub/wf/trmrslt_e.asp?term=12

First Nation
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/pub/wf/trmrslt_e.asp?term=10

So, this is why in the past the Chief and Council were actually usually 50%
minimum "Indian" or "indigenous" blood but now there are many non-status
Chiefs and Councils.

And then there's Bill
C71<http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=c71&source=library_prb&Parl=38&Ses=1>,
which is basically the way that the First Nations can now become dutiful
taxpayers like the rest of Canada. And Canada will finally be free of its
obligations to treaties once the Indian Act and the Royal Proclamation can
be laid to rest, as there will no longer be any "Indians" to serve.

However you look at it, the federal and provincial governments are putting
on the finishing touches to add on a new taxpayer - the First Nations
people.

The federal government has been slowly encouraging the municipalization of
indigenous lands in a number of places - Six Nations, Squamish Nation,
Nitinaht Nation, West Bank First Nation and Osoyoos First Nation.

The centrepiece of this struggle is with the Six Nations. Although there are
long-standing agreements over hundreds of years old, the Federal and Ontario
governments are ignoring their agreements and using local people as a wedge
to try to drive the Six Nations people into a fight. If they are able to
fight and take the land then they could 'gain' the land through war.

Over on the West Coast, the Squamish Nation's people are being gagged by
their Chief and Council to prevent them from protesting the final selloff of
their lands to developers. October 21, there will be a conference call which
all Squamish Nation members should be part of but it is unlikely that any of
the members will be able to voice their claim on their lands. Most of the
key land decisions are being made without proper consultation with its
members. But the Chief and Council don't care, because they've got
government backing to perpetuate the fraud. (Note: If you know of Squamish
Nation people you should tell them that their future is in their hands. If
they don't stand up now their land and their rights might be gone forever.
Their court case is S036483 Te Kiapilanoq vs Regina)

The Nitinaht Nation from over on Vancouver Island has a Chief and Council
that has basically been making decisions without holding meetings with the
membership. And as a result, there has been a 'fire sale' in the forests
with lines and lines of logging trucks hauling out trees like crazy.
Consequently the water sources that support salmon have been seriously
compromised.

And the poster children of the municipalization are the West Bank and
Osoyoos First Nations who are "doing great" now that they've moved beyond
the obligations of the Indian Act.

Hope that you will investigate this and take action before it's too late...

Peace

GD
-
Dog-Gone Democracy
http://whemedia.blogspot.com/
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